Peanut

I don't know why I named him Peanut. In retrospect, I should have named him something regal but tough, like Samson or Damien or Alexander. But nooo... I started randomly calling him Peanut, and it stuck. Anyway, here's a pic of him and Abby. This is a better picture of the rotund Abby, as you really can't see her tubby tummy.

We suspect that Peanut is the son of our MIA (and suspected deceased) tomcat, Speck. We never had Speckles neutered, as he had feline leukemia and it was generally thought that he would be unable to survive the anesthesia during surgery. Anyway, Peanut has the same build and the same broad head, and the same regal poise that Speck was known for.

Because he's unusually cruel to our other cats (even after being neutered), Peanut has been demoted from a housecat to outdoor life. Of course, he has the screened-in porch at his disposal, so he's never really out in the elements unless he wishes to be. His preferred lounging spot? On the deck, striking a regal pose as he suns himself.

Either that, or inside one of our vehicles. He sneaks up on us when we pull into the driveway, and as soon as we open the door he leaps in and demands a seat. Here, we see this ornery meowmer in the Explorer, getting cat hairs all over the leather. Mom has the most difficult time getting him out of the back opening in her car, because he wedges himself in there like his life depends on it and lashes out with tooth, claw, and the occasional uzi to keep from being removed. I don't know how many times I've almost crushed him while closing the car door.